NCD Sample Pages: How to Implement The 3 Colors of Love

Transcription

NCD Sample Pages:
How to Implement
The 3 Colors of Love
in Your World
This is a low resolution PDF export of sample pages from
the book How to Implement The 3 Colors of Love in Your
World by Adam Johnstone. You may view them online, but
are also invited to download them to your hard disk or
print them out for reading on paper.
The sample pages contain the table of contents, the introduction, plus selected pages from both the School of Love
and the Fruit of the Spirit Bible Studies. These pages may
give you an idea of the character and layout of the book so
that you can decide whether it is useful for your purposes.
Purchasers of the book also get free access to additional
ideas, downloads and support through the web site below.
The book can be ordered via the links available at:
www.3colorsoflove.org
Contents of this workbook
Introduction:
About this workbook
4
Part 1: The School of Love 7
Choosing your classmates 8
School of Love curriculum 10
Week 0: Orientation meeting 12
Week 1: Why study love and who wrote the book on it?
s Reading guide 14
s Meeting plan 16
Week 2: Learning from former A-grade students
s Reading guide 18
s Meeting plan 20
s Fruit of the Spirit Test frequently asked questions
s Data collection sheet 24
s 3 Colors of Love Results template 25
Week 3: Learning to love like the teacher
s Reading guide 26
s Meeting plan 28
s Calculating your group profile 30
s 3 Colors of Love Classroom Results 31
Week 4: Practicing love in the school yard
s Reading guide 32
s Meeting plan 34
Week 5: What fruit can you offer your classmates?
s Reading guide 36
s Meeting plan 38
Week 6: Leaving school on your Three-Color Love Cycle
s Reading guide 40
s Meeting plan 42
Part 2: The Three-Color Love Cycle 45
Breathing love in, and breathing it out 46
Taking the time to grow in love 48
The six stages of the Love Cycle 50
Your Love Cycle partnership 54
A Love (more) Letter 56
Push-start cycle plan ideas 58
Three-Color Love Cycle Meeting Outline 63
Test stage questions 65
Part 3: Fruit of the Spirit Bible Studies
Introduction and studies 68-80
Three-Color Love Cycle Prompt
67
back cover insert
22
4
Table
of contents
5
How to Implement The 3 Colors of Love in Your World
Introduction
About this workbook
T
Throughout the
workbook, this
symbol indicates
a bright idea that
may be helpful
with the given
topic. Some ideas
that apply in
various contexts are
repeated in different chapters of the
book.
here is hardly another theme that people—believers and nonbelievers alike—regard as more essential than love. And rightly
so: According to Scripture, love summarizes the very essence of
what the Christian faith is all about—“God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16).
At the same time, when it comes to practical steps for continually growing in love, most people don’t receive the training, the tools, and the
support that they need. This holds true for non-believers; but it is true
for Christians as well. The result is that many churches identify “loving
relationships” as their least developed quality (minimum factor). And
even if it shouldn’t be their present minimum factor, in many cases the
scores for “loving relationships” as indicated by the NCD Survey are far
from what they could be according to God’s will.
Growth is possible
The encouraging news is that it is absolutely realistic to grow considerably (and measurably!) in love, both on an individual and on a corporate
level. For sure, such progress takes some time, but it definitely doesn’t
require years. To me, it is absolutely amazing to observe with my own
eyes how much progress in this area can be achieved within, say, two
or three months. Quite a number of churches have even experienced
that their former “minimum factor” finally became the new “maximum
factor” of their church—the very feature that first comes to mind when
members and visitors think about that church.
While The 3 Colors of Love presents the biblical principles of Christian love,
this workbook shows you how you can learn to apply those principles at
very diverse levels within your life, both inside and outside of your church.
It relates the material that you find in The 3 Colors of Love to a practical, six
week process of growing in love (Part 1), shows you how you can continually grow in love beyond that process (Part 2), and also provides a series of
Bible studies to help you deepen your understanding as you partner with
God to further grow the Fruit of the Spirit in your life (Part 3).
What you need to start
You need very little to start such a process. Basically, it is the following
four things:
s a copy of this workbook,
s a copy of the book, The 3 Colors of Love,
s a copy of the Bible in a translation that you are familiar with,
s (at least) one other person or a group of people with whom you
would like to begin the process.
Meeting the author
My good friend Adam Johnstone, Director of NCD Australia and a member
of our NCD International leadership team, has written this workbook.
When reading it, you will sense how much he has listened to people who
6
About this workbook
Christian A. Schwarz
NCD International
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have already started a School of Love type of process in churches with
extremely different denominational and cultural backgrounds. You will
also sense how many things he has learned through trial and error in his
own church context, and how much he has been influenced by creative
people in his immediate and wider surrounding.
Among other things, Adam has two wonderful gifts: he can truly listen
(and thus learn from other people, whether this learning may take place
within or outside of his own comfort zone), and he can process these
ideas in his mind, until he has thought them through to their logical
and practical end. While the first of these gifts guarantees a constant
input to Adam’s thinking, the second gift guarantees that the output he
creates is trustworthy and deep.
Releasing your own creativity
This book is packed with creative ideas that are presented in order to
release your own creativity. As an additional help, you as the owner of
this workbook receive special privileges on the www.3colorsoflove.org
web site where you will find many additional tools.
I am sure you will enjoy the journey.
Wherever you
see this web link
throughout the
workbook, you
will find additional
ideas and downloads on the
3 Colors of Love
web site.
7
Choosing an
approach
Choosing your initial pathway
through this workbook
O
ne very important value within the Kingdom of God is diversity.
This is why the process you are embarking on provides you with
a couple of different approaches depending on the nature of the
group that you will be working with. Here are the two options with a few
points to help you decide your initial pathway.
Option 1: Starting with the School of Love
The School of Love takes you and your group step-by-step through all the
major teachings within The 3 Colors of Love book. This option provides:
s a six week process with the option to continue the growth process
s daily readings of about two pages throughout the process
If you would like to begin with this option, please continue with Part 1
on the next page and you will later be given the choice to move onto the
Option 2 Bible study content if you choose to continue the process.
Consider sharing
your vision and
hopes for The 3
Colors of Love with
your group and
reading this page
to them to find
out their preferred
approach for walking through the
process.
Option 2: Starting with some Bible Studies
Starting with the Fruit of the Spirit Bible study sessions moves more
immediately to the biblical background of love. This option provides:
s a nine week process with the option to continue the growth process
s a larger block of reading prior to the first study followed by just a
single page reading each week for nine weeks
If you would like to begin with this option, please turn to Part 3 of this
workbook on page 67 and you will later be given the option to return
to earlier parts of the workbook to continue the process.
It is not a life or death decision
Growing in love is a process that continues throughout our lives. So it is
very likely that at some stage (or numerous stages) you and your group
will work through the principles contained within The 3 Colors of Love
book again. The next time you will be changed people in different life
circumstances with an ability to understand and reflect even more of
God’s love than this time.
With this in mind, don’t worry about whether you have chosen the best
option first time around. If you are still unsure, just read through the
first few pages of each option and prayerfully consider which one is best
for your group at this time in their walk with God.
Part 1
The School
of Love
Class is in session! Find your seat and open your
head, hands and heart for a journey that will transform all the relationships of which you are a part.
Your teacher will be the God who is love. The classroom? Every meeting place within your world. Your
classmates? Anyone you would like to share the
journey with. To fail this subject is to close your eyes
to the justice, truth and grace that God shines upon
you. To pass is to begin taking even small steps
toward reflecting that love to those in your world.
Let the love learning begin!
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Part 1:
The School
of Love
Choosing
your classmates
L
ove has the power to transform every area of your life. But by the
very nature of love, you cannot experience that transformation on
your own. As you begin your time in the School of Love, consider
who you will invite to be your classmates. Over time, as you grow in your
own understanding and expression of love, you will hopefully enroll many
and various people in the school. But you must start somewhere.
Below are a number of examples of classmates you may like to have
sitting at the desk beside you. Read through each one and see who first
comes to your mind when you think of the possibilities.
Husband and Wife
“Honey! Do you think I could love you any better?”
One of the most powerful reflections of God’s love to the world around us
is when married couples (or future married couples) grow in their love for
one another. Perhaps you are starting out on a budding romance or have
smelt each other’s morning breath for years. Either way, why not ask the
question above, buy yourself and your beloved a 3 Colors of Love book,
then ask them to walk with you and help you grow along the way. Having
seen your teachability, they might just be willing to let you do the same.
The words “I love you” will soon mean more than you could imagine.
Best friends
“Do you want to grow up together?”
Friends can often say that they grew up together. However this often
means that in the long time they’ve spent with each other, they simply
got larger and older. What if for the next season of time, you and a
friend could say that you’ve grown up together in the most important
of all areas—love! Why not invite a close friend to be your classmate?
Parents
“How do I love my children when they…?”
Whether you face parenting alongside a loving spouse or alone, discovering the fullness of God’s love will take away a lot of the potential heartache
of being a mum or dad and bring into your home newfound joy you never
thought possible. You will soon discover just how a fuller understanding
of love helps you with the day-to-day challenges of loving your kids as
fully as you would like. Ask your spouse or—if you are parenting alone—
another parent to sit at the School of Love desk beside you.
Leaders and apprentices
“So you’d like to be a leader?”
Do you know someone who would like to be or could make a great
leader? There is no greater attribute for a leader than their ability to fully
love those in their care. If you have the opportunity to walk alongside
emerging leaders, then using the teaching of The 3 Colors of Love as a
guide in their character development will allow you to make a profound
Choosing your classmates
10
difference to the fruit of their influence. Why not work through this process with those you are mentoring or encourage the next level of leaders
under your care to take their own apprentices through it. It might even
develop into their specialist ministry!
Non-Christians and Christians
“We may not believe the same things, but do we agree on love?”
Perhaps you have a friend or relative who doesn’t profess to be a Christian but at the same time—like most people—believes that “love” is very
important (however they define it). With the common starting point
that “love matters,” you have the chance to grow together through a
journey that will change both of your lives. Who knows, such a journey
may just lead them to the one who is love.
Small group members
“If our group is the light of the world, how bright are we?”
You may be the leader of a small group or leadership team that meets
together on a regular basis. Imagine if you could measure the brightness and colors of love that your group reflects to the world around
you. Having tested that, think of the effect it would have on that world
if together you were able to step week-by-week closer to a full reflection
of God’s love in ways that transform each head, hand and heart.
Church planting team
“So you want to transform your community?”
Your whole church
“What if our whole church were to love a little more?”
Having spent time in the School of Love with any of the above classmates,
maybe you’re motivated to see your whole church transformed into an
oasis of love. If so, you might like to embark on a 3 Colors of Love churchwide campaign. See the web link to the right for more information.
Where to begin?
Having read about possible classmates or even having been prompted
with your own ideas, spend some time reflecting and asking God to
give you a clear sense of who you should start this journey with. Then,
turn the page, get some copies of The 3 Colors of Love, make a starting
time, and begin turning up your light of love in a dark world!
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There is much excitement and energy associated with starting a new
church. Dreams and visions of what could be, a clean slate to write a new
chapter of history, opportunities everywhere… Without love though, it is
not much more than a clanging gong or crashing cymbal. Imagine if your
fledgling faith community were to become such a bright reflector of God’s
love that it served as an illuminating, warming, healing and attractive “city
on the hill that could not be hidden” (Matthew 5:14). Should you get the
School of Love up and going before all the new students arrive?
Visit the web site for
s stories from
people around the
world who have
joined the School
of Love.
s more information
about conducting
a 3 Colors of Love
Campaign across
your church.
13
Week 0:
Orientation meeting
Part 1:
The School
of Love
Checklist
I have…
a copy of The 3 Colors of Love for each one of my classmates.
❐
❐
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❐
❐
s copies of this
week’s handout.
s Christian’s video
greeting.
s many of the
graphics used
through The 3
Colors of Love
book to help you
decorate your
meeting space.
❐
❐
downloaded and made copies of the Week 1 reading guide for
each one of my classmates (if they do not have their own copy
of this workbook).
read through the Week 0 meeting outline and made adjustments to suit my classmates and the time available.
downloaded the video greeting from Christian Schwarz from
the web site and have organized equipment for viewing it (if
you have chosen to include it in your Week 0 meeting).
familiarized myself with the page 9-10 introduction to The
3 Colors of Love.
organized or delegated responsibility for any decorations,
props or food required for setting the scene this week.
Optional setting the scene ideas
s
Make up School of Love posters to decorate your meeting space using
The 3 Colors of Love artwork available on the web site.
s
Get a large sheet of cardboard and decorate the edges with 3 Colors
of Love images from the web site. Each week, ask your classmates to
write one phrase on the card that describes their thoughts, feelings or
how they have been challenged by that week’s readings.
s
Ask for photos of each of your classmates and put them creatively into
a handout so they can pray for each other and the class each week.
I’d like to invite you on this journey because… ( _____ minutes)
Right up front it is important to harness one of the most valuable
resources in the room: you! If your friends have agreed to meet with
you and take the journey, it shows that you have influence in their lives.
So, it’s important for you to present to them—in your own way—why
you love them enough to ask them to be your classmates in the School
of Love. Let them know what you hope will happen in your own life and
theirs as a result of the journey ahead.
Video greeting from Christian Schwarz ( _____ minutes)
At this point, it may be helpful to show your classmates a short video
greeting from Christian Schwarz where he shares a preview of what
they will encounter in the coming weeks and why he believes what they
are about to do is so important for their world.
Week 0: Orientation Meeting
Introducing The 3 Colors of Love book ( _____ minutes)
Distribute copies of The 3 Colors of Love book to your classmates and
invite them to turn to page 9. Depending on how comfortable they are
with reading out loud, ask them to take turns in reading a section of
the book’s introduction to the rest of the group. Make it fun by asking
them to read in their most dramatic, expressive voice.
School of Love curriculum ( _____ minutes)
Talk to your group about the two parts of the journey ahead. Explain
that you will be reading, meeting and doing exercises through The 3
Colors of Love book over the next five weeks. Then—having a much
fuller understanding of God’s love and each other’s growth areas—you
will move into a very simple process for continuing to grow in love
beyond the formal study weeks.
Week 1 reading guide ( _____ minutes)
Distribute copies of the Week 1 reading guide (or purchased copies of
this workbook). Explain that the study guide for each week is in the same
format. Day 1 starts tomorrow so that you have finished the first week of
readings in time for the Week 1 meeting. Highlight the section heading,
page numbers and Scripture reflection for each day as well as the School
of Love memory verse. Ask them to spend a moment at the end of each
reading to consider the reflection question for that day and to perhaps
write their thoughts down in preparation to share at the next meeting.
Prayer ideas ( _____ minutes)
s Pray for your classmates, thanking God for bringing you together
and asking him to unify you as a group committed to helping each
other reflect his love.
s Ask God to do a new thing in you so that by the end of Part 1, you
can see a difference in one another.
s Pray that each member of the group will truly experience the love
of God in practical ways during this time together.
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Since most people
are not used to the
discipline of reading and reflecting
so consistently
each day, it would
be helpful to send
some kind of
friendly reminder
part way through
each week indicating where you are
meant to be up to
in the readings.
Before or after the meeting: For those who find reading a challenge
It may be that some of your classmates have difficulties with reading. If so, you may wish
to take them aside and privately show them an abbreviated reading option. The 3 Colors of
Love has been written in a way that allows you to read each main section up to the first subheading and thereby gain an overview of each topic.
For example, in the section entitled God is love on page 18 in the book, you would read up to
the sub-heading God’s characteristics and God’s nature. This allows the person to participate
in the daily readings far more easily and still feel comfortable to join in the weekly meeting
discussions to some level. Reading this way may also give them more confidence and motivate them to read further having had their interest stirred in the initial paragraph.
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Part 1:
The School
of Love
Week 1: Why study love and
who wrote the book on it?
I
n Week 1, you will begin getting to know the Principal of the School
of Love—God—in a whole new way. This will include an introduction to the three dimensions of his love: justice, truth, and grace.
Each day, read the listed pages from The 3 Colors of Love, study the
Scripture verse, think about the reflection question and note down your
thoughts and feelings ready to share at your weekly class meeting.
Day 1
The hunger for love (pages 11-13)
Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks
the water I give him will never thirst. —John 4:13-14
When in your life have you felt most loved? When in your life have you
felt least loved?
Day 2
The love deficiencies in our churches (pages 14-15)
If you are having
difficulties fitting in
the daily readings
around the rest of
your activities, think
seriously about
when the best
time would be for
you and what you
might be able to
remove from your
daily routine to give
you the necessary
time. Diligently try
different options
until you find something that works.
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so
you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my
disciples, if you love one another. —John 13:34-35
When have you seen a lack of love shown by a church?
Day 3
Misconceptions of love (pages 16-17)
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that
you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the
evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even
the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what
are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect,
therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. —Matthew 5:44-48
What misconceptions about love do you see in the world around you?
Day 4
God is love (pages 18-19)
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
—1 John 4:8
What are the five most important descriptive words or phrases that
come to your mind when you think about God? What might that say
about your image of God’s love?
Week 1: Why study love and who wrote the book on it?
16
Day 5
I do not hide your justice in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and
salvation. I do not conceal your grace and your truth from the great
assembly. —Psalm 40:10
Is your grace declared in the grave, your truth in destruction? Are your
wonders known in the place of darkness, or your just deeds in the land
of oblivion? —Psalm 88:11-12
The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his justice to the
nations. He has remembered his grace and his truth to the house of
Israel. —Psalm 98:2-3
I know, O Lord, that your laws are just, and in truth you have afflicted
me. May your unfailing grace be my comfort. —Psalm 119:75-76
Which of the three values—compassion, trustworthiness, or acceptance—
would others most see in you? If unsure, ask some close friends.
Day 6
God is light (pages 23-25)
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the
world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the
light of life.” —John 8:12
Who from your childhood most strongly reflected the fullness of God’s
light to you? What did that look like in practical terms?
What is darkness? (pages 26-27)
But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If
then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
—Matthew 6:23
Think of a very dark moment in your life when you felt unable to show
love or it was being withheld from you. Which of the three outer darkness terms in the diagram—deception, mercilessness, or injustice—was
shadowing you most at that time?
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Day 7
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Your grace, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your truth to the
skies. Your justice is like the mighty mountains; like the great deep.
—Psalm 36:5-6
School of Love
memory verse
Teacher, which
is the greatest
commandment in
the Law?
Jesus replied:
‘Love the Lord
your God with all
your heart and
with all your soul
and with all your
mind.’ This is the
first and greatest
commandment.
And the second
is like it: ‘Love
your neighbor as
yourself.’
Matthew 22:36-39
ww
Three dimensions of God’s love (pages 20-22)
For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is true in all he does.
The Lord loves justice; the earth is full of his unfailing grace.
—Psalm 33:4-5
the chance to meet
and hear stories
from other School
of Love classmates
around the world.
17
Week 1:
Meeting plan
Part 1:
The School
of Love
Pre-meeting checklist
I have…
completed this week’s readings and reflections myself.
❐
❐
❐
read through this week’s meeting outline and made adjustments to suit my classmates and the time available.
downloaded and made copies of the Week 2 reading guide for
each one of my classmates (if they do not have their own copy
of this workbook).
❐
organized or delegated responsibility for any decorations,
props or food required for setting the scene this week.
Optional setting the scene ideas
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copies of this week’s
handout.
s
Have some songs speaking about God’s love playing as your classmates arrive. If your group is comfortable worshiping together, lead
into a love-related worship song to start the meeting.
s
Cut out newspaper reports depicting a lack of love in the world
during last week and display them around your meeting place.
s
During a prayer time in your meeting, provide each person with a
mirror and then turn off the lights and light a large candle in the middle
of the room. Ask everyone to use their mirror to reflect that light to
different parts of the room as they pray with their eyes open.
Loving God and one another ( _____ minutes)
Encourage your classmates that by the end of the School of Love, you
would like it if the whole group has memorized the memory verse shown
on the weekly reading guide. Invite those who have already learnt it to
recite it together.
Then ask them each to briefly share something to either honor God’s
love for them or honor the love shown by another member of the
group. Give them about 30 seconds each.
Discussion time ( _____ minutes)
1. Take a quick vote on which one or two of the daily readings was most
interesting for the majority of the group. Turn to those topics and take
turns re-reading them out loud. Then ask the group the reflection
questions from the reading guide that relates to those topics.
2. Ask one of the other questions from the Week 1 reading guide that
you feel would help start some good discussion in your group. Be prepared with some of your own observations to help start the sharing.
3. Ask each person if there was any other topic or idea that they found
particularly interesting. Ask them why it was helpful for them.
Week 1: Meeting plan
18
Week 2 reading guide ( _____ minutes)
Distribute the Week 2 reading guide and read the introduction.
Prayer ideas ( _____ minutes)
s
See the ‘candle and mirror’ setting the scene idea.
s
Ask God to help us to begin to engage with hurts caused by a love
deficiency in past or present relationships.
s
Ask for forgiveness from God for causing others heartache by your
lack of love and seek his power to be different.
s
Have a time of silence where you individually picture God and yourself together doing a normal activity from your everyday.
s
Spend time picturing the faces of those you would call your “enemies”, or those who at least cause you grief. Pray silently that you
will be able to reflect God’s love to them and they will come to
know and reflect the love of God also.
Notes
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
(If you are meeting
in a group of more
than 3 people) To
encourage open
discussion each
week, first ask questions of those who
usually only share
if asked, followed
by those who rarely
speak at all, and
finish with those
who are always
willing to say something.
22
Part 1:
The School
of Love
Fruit of the Spirit Test
frequently asked questions
What do I do if a person doesn’t agree with their test results?
Often the idea that everyone in the world has a most developed fruit
(maximum factor) and a least developed fruit (minimum factor) is overlooked. For some, a pass/fail mindset is more prominent in their mind.
Some will think more lowly than they ought to and feel that they (almost)
don’t exhibit any of the Fruit of the Spirit, while others (even if they don’t
say it) convey that they are doing just fine in all of them. Reinforcing the
fact that everyone has a lowest and highest fruit can be helpful.
Another angle is to give the person the benefit of the doubt and ask
them what they believe their lowest and highest fruit are if they disagree
with the test results. Again this can reveal that they haven’t really settled
on the fact that everyone has a highest and lowest fruit as often they will
struggle to suggest a result much different at all from the results.
When asked questions about the
Fruit of the Spirit
Test or any other
aspect of the School
of Love, don’t forget
to invite other
classmates to comment or suggest an
answer. There may
be some very helpful wisdom in your
classroom.
If the lowest fruits are very close, or my color areas are very
close, what should I work on?
If your two lowest areas are within a couple of points of each other
(which may be the case in the question above) it is not worth arguing over exactly which area is the lowest in reality. On a different day,
the person may have ticked a slightly different box which may have
reversed the order of these close areas.
When faced with the decision of which area to work on, ask the person
to reflect on the readings about those areas and to go with the one that
they feel is more of a challenge to them or ask a friend to suggest one.
What if I or others disagree with someone else’s results?
On occasions, the test results can be somewhat surprising. In some
instances this means there is a great opportunity to get to know each
other better in terms of what each person finds easy or struggles with.
Alternatively, there are times that a person’s results do not seem to
reveal what you “know” to be the truth about them. The test itself is not
magical. While the questions do not mention each fruit and are worded
in a simple way about everyday occurrences, you can make the results
be whatever you like.
In some cases a person’s self-perception is extremely underdeveloped
and therefore their results will appear different to everyone else’s (possibly accurate) perception. This could lead to either overestimated results,
results that are far lower than reality, or results that are slightly skewed
one way or another.
In very extreme instances (for whatever reason) a person could lie when
answering the survey and this would of course change the results.
Though it doesn’t make much sense to do so when everyone will
emerge with a minimum fruit anyway.
Fruit of the Spirit Test frequently asked questions
So if the person in question does not immediately respond to the humble
suggestion that the results are “unusual,” do not force the issue trying
to rectify it immediately. Instead, commit to continue walking with the
person over the longer term cycle process where repeated Test stages will
clarify their sight. If you can’t, find someone who will.
Where does “personality” come into the results?
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No matter how questionable results may have come about, the Love
Cycle process in Part 2 of this workbook will gradually get to the core
of the issue. It will do so either through the repeated process of asking
quite probing questions that will ultimately unravel why a person would
feel the need to lie on the survey, or through the growth in self-perception that is at the heart of one of the cycle stages.
23
Visit the web site
for more frequently
asked questions or
to ask your own
questions.
When discussion takes place around Fruit of the Spirit Test results, it is not
uncommon for there to be a feeling that perhaps the results are just revealing a person’s God-given personality. Of course, looking at the negative
effects that a person’s lowest fruit has on their relationships should cast
reasonable doubt on how “God-given” all of that personality actually is.
In Romans 12:2, the apostle Paul speaks of a transformation (literally metamorphosis) of a person’s mind and actions that could only be linked with
a fundamental change in the person’s “personality.” The more important
question in our context is how much of your current personality are you
prepared to change in order to love the way you were intended to.
What does the scale on page 68 mean statistically?
On page 68 of The 3 Colors of Love is a table that helps
you to increase the objectivity of your survey responses. By
looking along each fruit line and then selecting the number Page
68
in the black row at the top, you are rating yourself against value
the responses of the other people in the database.
130
The database scale runs from 70 to 130. 100 represents
the average result for each fruit (see diagram to the right). 120
Any result of 110 or more places a person in the highest
15% of respondents while a result of 90 or below places a 110
person in the lowest 15% of respondents.
100
Understanding this scale can be both extremely encouraging and very sobering with respect to the reflection 90
of God’s love in a person’s life. Though once you have 80
understood objectively the level from which you are
starting, your attention should move to comparing each 70
of your personal fruit results with your own results as a
whole. For it doesn’t matter whether your lowest fruit
is starting at 70 or 107, progress in love is always more
important than your current level.
% of
people
below
that level
99.85%
97.5%
85%
50%
15%
2.5%
0.15%
Calculating your group profile
1. Enter your classmate’s names below.
2. From their data collection sheets, enter the ‘Page 68 Values’ and Justice, Truth,
and Grace values for each person in the respective column.
3. Add up the values along each row and divide the total for each row by the
number of people in the sample then write the total in the Average box.
4. Repeat step 3 for each row.
5. On the 3 Colors of Love Classroom Results template (page 31), write down each
fruit in order from highest to lowest and enter the value for each from the Average boxes below.
6. Transfer the Justice, Truth, and Grace Average values below onto the template
and draw a circle that best fits the points.
Classmates
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31
color copies of these
two pages
Average
Aspect of Love
Patience
Joy
Peace
Faithfulness
Goodness
Kindness
Self-control
Gentleness
Justice
Truth
Grace
3 Colors of Love Classroom Results
3 Colors of Love Classroom Results
Classroom Name: _____________________
Date: ______________
Value
(Based on John 13:35) By our…
(Highest Fruit) 1. ___________________________________
shown to others, people will know
that we are Jesus’ disciples.
_____
2. _________________
_____
3. _________________
_____
4. _________________
_____
5. _________________
_____
6. _________________
_____
7. _________________
_____
(Lowest Fruit) 8. ___________________________________
_____
80
e
nc
pe
a
70
60
ss
sne
justice
les
pa
ti
e
n
i
rc
50
kindness
40
faithfulness
30
e
c
ra
30
40
50
70
80
e
s
ne
80
60
s
e
lfc
ge
n
tl
l
ro
joy
injustice
s
70
50
g
60
t
on
30
40
tr u
t
LOVE
h
dec
e
m
e
g o od n es s
ce
pt
io
However, they will have more difficulty
seeing Jesus’ reflection in us by our…
32
41
Part 1:
The School
of Love
Week 6: Leaving school on
your Three-Color Love Cycle
I
n this last formal week of the School of Love, you will begin using
the Three-Color Love Cycle. It is a process that will continue guiding your growth in love for the rest of your life. Rather than finding
yourself coming to the end of yet another program, the cycle will help
carry you forward based on all you have learnt over the last five weeks. It
also provides you with a very simple pathway on which to guide others
toward more fully reflecting God’s love in their lives.
Until now, The 3 Colors of Love process has been reasonably prescriptive with specific readings, questions and exercises. From this point
on though, it is very important that you make the transition to applying the principles you have learnt to the unique circumstances of your
everyday life. It is this step that can be the most challenging, but at the
same time, by far the most rewarding in bringing the fullness of God’s
love to your world.
Day 1
Make sure you give
yourself plenty of
time this week to
prepare your contribution to your class
celebration.
Breathing love in, and breathing it out
Read pages 46-47 of How to Implement the 3 Colors of Love.
He who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes
sweet. —Proverbs 27:7
When it comes to the fullness of love, in which area do you think you
are most underdeveloped—breathing in, or breathing out? Why?
Day 2
Taking the time to grow in love
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. —James 1:4
Who do you know that tends to live their life in the past? …in the present? …in the future?
Day 3
The six stages of the Love Cycle
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test
and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
—Romans 12:2
Which stage of the Love Cycle are you likely to struggle with? Which
stage is likely to be your strength?
Week 6: Leaving school on the Three-Color Love Cycle
42
Day 4
Your Love Cycle partnership
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of
three strands is not quickly broken. —Ecclesiastes 4:12
What clear benefits would come from you partnering with at least one
other person as you seek to grow in love?
Day 5
A Love (more) Letter
Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this
comes from the evil one. —Matthew 5:37
Are you prepared to commit to even a short season of cyclical growth to
see what might happen? If so, complete the Love (more) Letter exercise. If
you are not, be serious in thinking about why you feel this way.
Day 6
Push-start cycle plan ideas
Read through the push-start cycle plan ideas for your lowest fruit and
select one that you will try over the next two days until your Week 6
meeting. Feel free to modify the plans and don’t worry about getting the
perfect plan in place. Just begin to cycle something that you believe will
help you to grow. If instead you have thought of your own unique plan
related to your lowest fruit, then by all means start applying that.
School of Love
memory verse
Teacher, which
is the greatest
commandment in
the Law?
Jesus replied:
‘Love the Lord
your God with all
your heart and
with all your soul
and with all your
mind.’ This is the
first and greatest
commandment.
And the second
is like it: ‘Love
your neighbor as
yourself.’
Matthew 22:36-39
What is your initial plan for growing in love from this point forward?
Prepare to celebrate
On this the last day of the formal part of the School of Love, finalize your
contribution to your class celebration.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! —Philippians 4:4
What will be your celebration offering to your classmates and to God?
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Day 7
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the chance to meet
and hear stories
from other School
of Love classmates
around the world.
Part 2
The
Three-Color
Love Cycle
Growing in love is clearly not a weekend hobby. Nor
is it a project that you undertake for a few weeks
and at the end say, “Finished! What’s next?” The
journey to fully reflecting God’s love is a continuous
process that began before you can remember and
will continue until the end of this life—if you are
deliberate about it.
46
Part 2:
The Three-Color
Love Cycle
Breathing love in,
and breathing it out
I
LOVE
exhale
inhale
n a perfect world, loving and being loved should be as natural as
breathing in and breathing out. Breathing is both an activity that our
bodies do automatically—even while we are asleep—but at the same
time can be deliberately stopped by us. Like love, it should happen all by
itself, but our will has the capacity to upset its natural rhythm which can
lead to breathing difficulties or even more dire consequences.
Breathing difficulties
In a perfect world, Unfortunately when it comes to growing in love, we each
start the process with breathing difficulties that often cause
loving and being us to fall far below our potential. Try this simple exercise.
loved should be as Breathe out completely… now push a little more air out…
natural as breathing and then a little more… now hold it for 10 seconds…
Breathe normally again.
in and breathing out. This exercise in extreme exhaling is a metaphor for those who
seek to grow in love purely through their own effort. They
will expend whatever love they have and work until they are completely
spent—motivated by a desire to be a more loving person. But such an
approach is literally suffocating. For a short time, it makes a difference and
Breathing love in, and breathing it out
47
perhaps others will even notice it. But ultimately you are forced to give up;
exhausted; feeling like a failure; wanting to love more; but depleted.
Now try another exercise.
Take a deep breath in… breathe in a little more…
and then a little more… now hold it for 10 seconds…
Breathe normally again.
This extreme inhaling is a metaphor for those who understand the absolute importance of taking in the love of God and the love of others. After
all, you can only give what you have received. However, the discomfort
of holding two very full lungs of air is equally suffocating but in the
opposite way to extreme exhaling. The air you have taken in contains
the oxygen you need, but if you fail to exhale you will soon become
delusional as the breath of life becomes stale within you.
A more natural cycle
More than a metaphor
Love is as essential to experiencing real life as breathing is for keeping
you alive over the next five minutes. In fact, the metaphor of breathing
as a way of understanding both the way to grow in love and why so
many relationships in the world are choking is an almost perfect one.
From the businessman who exhales excessively into his work and then,
gasping for breath, inhales pornography or excessive alcohol to give a
quick fix to his collapsing lungs. To the tired mother who breathes out
every last breath of love over her family and then secretly inhales comfort food to fill the empty void.
On the other side you have the teenager who breathes in all that his or
her parents have to offer without any intention or expectation of returning the love. Or you have the consumerist Christian who jumps from
church to church breathing in all that is on offer, while never looking
for opportunities to serve or be stretched in their faith.
Add to these, thousands of different relational scenarios where love is not
inhaled and exhaled naturally and you start to get a very clear picture of
our world. Though the question for now is, will you take the time to learn
to breathe properly for your own sake and the sake of those you love?
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Of course, the approach of both types of people above is wrong, and yet
at the same time, right. We must draw in great draughts of love directly
from God and from God through others. But we must also exhale that
love with all our might until it fills every last corner of our world. Only
in deliberately trying to breathe out the fullness of God’s love, can you
discover what you do not have to give. And only in taking the time
to breathe in, can you hope to fill up on that which you lack. Like all
of God’s creation, love exists in an eternal natural cycle of giving and
receiving where finding the natural rhythmical balance leads to life.
Visit the web site
for more discussion
about the breathing
metaphor.
Part 3
Fruit of
the Spirit
Bible Studies
If God is love, then the Bible must be a love story.
Among stories of broken humanity pieced back
together through the Cross, we find seeds of true
love. If planted and nurtured to maturity, the seeds
bring forth a harvest of fruitfulness for the Kingdom
many times greater than what we might expect or
imagine. Motivated by his grace and the intent to
reflect the love of Christ more fully, let us explore the
depths of God’s love as revealed in his Word.
69
Part 3:
Fruit of the Spirit
Bible Studies
Where are you up to
in this workbook?
Option 1. We would like to continue the School of Love process
with some Fruit of the Spirit Bible Studies
Have you come to the end of the six week School of Love process and
would like to keep the momentum for growth going in your group? If
so, the Fruit of the Spirit Bible Studies would be a great way to do it.
Since you have already covered the major content of The 3 Colors of
Love, you can simply move to Bible Study 1 for your next group meeting. To best maintain the momentum for growth in your group, your
Bible study sessions could consist of two parts:
1. Start your session with a short Three-Color Love Cycle Meeting (revisit
pages 63-66 for details). Even if group members are meeting with
each other outside of your main group meeting to work through
the Love Cycle, this time during group meetings will be helpful for
sharpening each other’s skills in using the cycle process.
If continuing on
from the School
of Love, consider
inviting one of your
more enthusiastic
students to co-lead
the Bible study sessions as a way of
giving them further
confidence and
experience in leading the love process
in the future.
Prior to your meeting, invite just one group member to be the focus
of that segment. That person might have as their lowest fruit the
particular Fruit of the Spirit you are studying that week, though that
is not critical. Ask the rest of the group to play the part of the cycle
partner asking the relevant questions and leading the individual
toward a revised cycle plan and further growth. Remember, you are
still not trying to solve all of the person’s growth challenges but just
helping them to move to the next level.
Each week you can move to a different group member for this exercise. Allow about 15-20 minutes for this segment.
2. After your cycle meeting, move onto the Fruit of the Spirit Bible
study for that week. The first study can be found on page 72 of this
workbook. Go there now to familiarize yourself with the study format
and make any adjustments you feel are necessary for your group.
Option 2. We would like to start the love journey with some
Fruit of the Spirit Bible Studies
First of all, welcome to The 3 Colors of Love process! You are about to
embark on a series of Bible studies that will be both thought-provoking
and practical. Before you begin, here are some details to help you understand the process and what you will need to do to prepare yourself and
your group for the weeks ahead.
Study components
Each study consists of the following parts…
s
Homework feedback—a brief sharing time of experiences from the
homework exercises.
s
Reading the overview together—a short shared re-reading of part of
The 3 Colors of Love book to focus everybody’s attention.
s
Seeing this color/tasting this fruit in your life—some discussion questions personalizing the theme for each group member.
s
Key Bible passage—a passage and discussion question relating to the
main theme of the study.
s
Growing a more colorful/fruitful character—further passages and discussion questions to move each group member closer to a practical
understanding of the need for action and growth.
s
Partnering with God—homework to help each group member start
putting into practice the subject of the study.
s
Prayer—a simple prayer that you can use, change or add to as part of
thanking and petitioning God for more love in your world.
You are free (and encouraged!) to change the order of meeting components, add or leave out certain questions, and generally customize your
meetings to best suit your unique group and the time available.
The main preparation for your Introductory Study is for all group members to read the first 61 pages and complete The Fruit of the Spirit Test in
The 3 Colors of Love book. You will also need to supply them with various
downloadable handouts along the way. Your special privileges on the 3
Colors of Love web site (see instructions to the right) allow you to download and produce as many copies of the handouts as you need.
Over the page you will find a checklist of tasks you will need to complete
before each study. Come back to that checklist each week just to make
sure you’ve done all you need to do to prepare.
Now, enjoy the journey into the heart of God’s love!
For those who find reading a challenge
It may be that some of your group members have difficulties with
reading. If so, you may wish to take them aside and privately show
them an abbreviated reading option. The 3 Colors of Love has been
written in a way that allows you to read each main section up to the
first sub-heading and thereby gain an overview of each topic.
For example, in the section entitled God is love on page 18 in the
book, you would read up to the sub-heading God’s characteristics
and God’s nature. This allows the person to participate in reading far
more easily and still feel comfortable to join in the group discussions
to some level. Reading this way may also give them more confidence
and motivate them to read further having had their interest stirred in
the initial paragraph.
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Preparing your group for the Introductory Study and beyond
w
Understanding the theme/term—a couple of discussion questions
about the theme and its importance in Christian community.
ww
s
70
s details of your
nearest 3 Colors of
Love book supplier.
s your special
access privileges
as the owner of
this workbook.
Visit the ‘book
extras’ page when
you are logged
in to the web
site and enter
the code below
to freely upgrade
your account and
access all of the
3 Colors of Love
downloads.
3CLV71231
71
Part 3:
Fruit of the Spirit
Bible Studies
Study checklists
Prior to the Introductory Study
I have…
supplied each of my group members with a copy of The 3
Colors of Love book.
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Visit the web site
s to download Christian
Schwarz’s video
greeting.
s to download the
Homework Handout for each study.
s to ask a question.
s for many of the
graphics used
through The 3
Colors of Love in
case you feel like
being creative in
decorating your
meeting place.
❐
❐
❐
❐
❐
downloaded, made copies and supplied each of my group
members with The 3 Colors of Love Study Preparation Guide.
discussed with and informed each member of my group by
when we must all have completed the first 61 pages of The 3
Colors of Love and completed The Fruit of the Spirit Test
(ie. The date we will do the Introductory Study).
downloaded the video greeting from Christian Schwarz from
the web site and have organized equipment for viewing it
(if you would like to include it in your Introductory Study).
read the first 61 pages of The 3 Colors of Love and completed
The Fruit of the Spirit Test myself.
Prior to every study including the Introductory Study
I have…
followed up anyone who wasn’t able to make it to the last
meeting to ensure that they are alright and to see if they need
help with anything. And, if appropriate, have encouraged
them to keep on track with the study and homework.
❐
❐
❐
❐
read through the upcoming study and made adjustments to
suit my group and the time available.
downloaded and made copies of the relevant Homework
Handout to distribute during the upcoming study.
reminded my group to bring along their Bible and The 3 Colors
of Love to each session.
Introductory Study:
The 3 Colors of Love
72
Part 3:
Fruit of the Spirit
Bible Studies
Showing Christian Schwarz’s video greeting (optional)
Reading the overview together ( _____ minutes)
Take a few minutes to re-read pages 28-29 of The 3 Colors of Love. If appropriate, invite various people to read a paragraph or more at a time.
Understanding The 3 Colors of Love ( _____ minutes)
s
What is the most significant new thought or insight you have about
love from reading the first 62 pages of The 3 Colors of Love?
s
In what practical ways have you seen the lack of one of the colors
of love negatively impact Christian community?
Seeing this color in your life ( _____ minutes)
s
What is your strongest color of love according to The Fruit of the Spirit
Test? In what practical ways does it help you reflect Jesus to others?
s
What is your weakest color of love? What do you admire about or
what attracts you to people who are strong in your weakest color?
Key Bible passages ( _____ minutes)
Invite someone to read John 8:12 and another to read Matthew 5:14.
s
If Jesus is the light of the world, in what specific practical ways do we
become an increasingly bright light to the world in day-to-day life?
Growing a more colorful character ( _____ minutes)
Invite someone to read James 5:4-6.
s
In the modern world, what does it mean for Christians to be at risk
of allowing, or doing nothing about, the condemnation or murder of
innocent people?
Invite someone to read 2 John 1:4-11.
s
What are some of the ways that you evaluate truth?
s
How do you respond to deception?
s
How do you respond to truth?
Invite someone to read 1 Corinthians 15:9-10.
s
What practical effect does God’s grace have in your day-to-day life?
Partnering with God ( _____ minutes)
Distribute the Introductory Study Homework Handout to the group.
Prayer ( _____ minutes)
Lord, thank you for the light of your love that shines upon us. Please
help us to remove all that would mask your reflection in our lives so that
our presence in your world would light the way to you. Amen
Keep discussions
brief and flowing
during each study,
emphasizing to
the group that you
will not find all the
answers in one
night but simply
need to take a step
forward in love.
73
Part 3:
Fruit of the Spirit
Bible Studies
Study 1:
Patience—Enduring love
Homework feedback ( _____ minutes)
Invite your group members to share about their homework experience.
Reading the overview together ( _____ minutes)
Take a few minutes to re-read page 71 of The 3 Colors of Love up to the
“Key Bible passage”. If appropriate, invite various people to read.
Understanding the term ( _____ minutes)
s What new thoughts or insights about patience do you have from
reading this short explanation?
s Why is patience an essential component of Christian community?
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Visit the web site
s to download the
Homework Handout for each Fruit
of the Spirit study
s to ask a question.
s for more discussion about the
Fruit of the Spirit
Tasting this fruit in your life ( _____ minutes)
s If patience is one of your highest four fruit according to the test, in
what practical ways does it help you reflect Jesus to others?
s If it is one of your lowest four fruit, what do you admire about or what
attracts you to people you know who have high patience?
Key Bible passage ( _____ minutes)
Invite someone to read the Key Bible passage on page 71.
s What does “waiting” and “standing firm” have to do with actively
exercising patience as The 3 Colors of Love suggests?
Growing a more fruitful character ( _____ minutes)
Invite someone to read Galatians 5:19-21.
s What part do you believe patience plays in counteracting any of the
“acts of the sinful nature” listed in this passage?
Invite someone to read Matthew 18:15-20.
s How are the determined and merciful aspects of patience spoken
about in The 3 Colors of Love shown in this passage (page 71)?
Invite someone to read Matthew 18:21-35.
s If godly patience is about withholding anger for a prolonged time,
at what point is it appropriate to move to expressing anger?
Partnering with God ( _____ minutes)
Distribute the patience Homework Handout to the group.
Prayer ( _____ minutes)
Lord, thank you for the enduring gift of your patience shown to us.
We pray that each day, we will mercifully provide the space that others
need to grow in your likeness. And we ask as we walk alongside them
that they will be encouraged by our determination to see your best
emerge in their lives. Amen.
80
So what now
in the name of love?
What now?
Option 1: You have just completed the workbook with a group
First of all, congratulations! Only time (and your continued inhaling and
exhaling of love) will show the full impact this part of your love journey
will have had on your own life and the lives of those with whom you’ve
been sharing it. Hopefully, if you’ve been diligent with the opportunities and tools available, you will have some sense of Jesus saying to you,
“Well done good and faithful servant!”
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the chance to share
your experiences of
the School of Love
with other current
or future leaders
around the world.
Your experiences
could be of great
encouragement
to someone just
starting out on the
journey.
Remember though that straight after that statement in the parable of
the talents the master says, “You have been faithful with a few things.
Now I will put you in charge of many.” So as a leader of others, what
could be your next steps? Here are some suggestions…
s
Take a short season of rest where you can inhale the love of God
while praying for and perceiving his next steps for you in ministry.
s
During the School of Love, you may have gained a sense that helping people grow in love in a group environment could become a
primary ministry for you. Pray about the idea and speak to some
trusted friends to see if God might be calling you to such a ministry
working with many and various different groups in your world.
s
Encourage one of your more enthusiastic students to seriously consider taking another group of people through the School of Love.
Help them think about it with the help of pages 8-9 of this workbook and ask them what assistance you could personally provide
them along the way if they were to step up to such a challenge.
s
Having worked through the School of Love, you may be interested
to explore one of the other NCD Discipleship books. See the love
web site for details of other tools in the 3 Color World.
s
Based on your experience of the School of Love, you might be
motivated to take a lead role in promoting and facilitating a School
of Love Campaign across your whole church. Again, see the love
web site for details.
Option 2: You began with the Fruit of the Spirit Bible Studies
Well done! You have just laid some fantastic biblical foundations for ongoing growth in love. So what could be next for you and your group?
It would be very helpful for your group to discover the Three-Color
Love Cycle process. This process will help them to continue to grow on
the basis of their individual Fruit of the Spirit tendencies. The content
relating to the cycle process is contained in this workbook. However, for
convenience, it is available for download and distribution to your group
from your ‘book extras’ page on the web site (The web site version is
reformatted to seamlessly connect with the end of your Fruit of the Spirit
Bible Studies). Simply download the material and keep on growing!

NCD Sample Pages: How to Implement The 3 Colors of Love

Transcription

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